Sorted by date Results 1251 - 1275 of 1587
With salmon fisheries going on every summer all across Alaska, you might wonder why so much attention is focused on Bristol Bay. The answer can be summed up in two words: sockeye salmon. Bristol Bay is home to the largest red salmon runs in the world and sockeye is Alaska’s most valuable salmon fishery by far. In most years, well over one-third of Alaska’s total earnings from salmon fishing stem from Bristol Bay. Whereas other fishing regions like Copper River, Cook Inlet, Kodiak, Southeast and the Alaska Peninsula might get sockeye cat...
Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht reported the following information during the last Borough Assembly meeting: Petersburg Police Chief Kelly Swihart and Giesbrecht met with community stakeholders regarding transient/homeless issues. The group discussed potential problems and solutions and is gathering more information. Swihart assisted Superior Court Judge Trevor Stevens and staff with a security assessment of the courthouse. There were several highlights from the recent Southeast Alaska Power Agency (SEAPA) Board meeting in Wrangell. Official...
This October’s municipal ballot is the largest Petersburg voters have seen for many years, according to Petersburg Borough Clerk Kathy O’Rear. Thirty-six elected positions and seven ballot propositions, pending assembly approval, are on the ballot. In a report to the Borough Assembly, O’Rear wrote in regard to the need for election workers. “A push to recruit new workers in 2009 to train for future elections failed,” O’Rear wrote. “The numerous letters and notices we have recently placed seeking new election workers have largely gone unanswer...
Herring Toss (12 years and younger) Female: Jaden Perry Male: Alex Worthatch Herring Toss (13 years and older) Female: Lisa Haas Male: Chase Lockhart Tote Races John Kolomaznik Team Blindfold Rowboat Races Desi Burrell & Dan Babcock Log Rolling Women’s & Co-ed winner: Alesha Jabusch Men’s Winner: Max Peeler Scrapfish Derby (7 years and under) Biggest Fish for Boys: Caleb Lutomski Biggest Fish for Girls: Stella Walton Scrapfish Derby (8-12 years old) Biggest Fish for Boys: Keisuke Sasada Biggest fish for Girls: Anya Pawuk Parade Best of Par...
The Petersburg Medical Center's Physical Therapy Department is holding the Paddle Battle in the Narrows fundraiser on July 12 to raise money for new parallel bars. The Paddle Battle consists of two courses that run along the Wrangell Narrows where kayakers, paddle boarders, rowers or whatever flotation craft one prefers can find community members to sponsor each mile of their trip. A long course, from Woodpecker Cove to Middle Harbor, is planned for those looking for more of a challenge. Fundrai... Full story
June 25 Police responded to a report of a hit and run. Police charged John Martin, 42, with Driving While License Suspended, failure to report an accident and driving without insurance. Police arrested John R. Staples, 48, on charges of a felony DUI. Caller reported unsafe passing by a vehicle. Caller reported almost hitting a black lab on the roadway. Caller reported a child crying at the middle school playground. Parent arrived during the call. Caller reported a group of youths at the ball field on dugouts and blue building. Officer...
June 27, 1914 – Mr. Wm. Hesse, the moving picture man who has just returned from the Whaling Station at Port Armstrong, reports great success in his pictures. Though taken under difficulties, with the camera lashed to the mast of the ship during stormy weather, pictures of the whale were taken from the time it is sighted at sea until it cut up and reduced to oil, a process that takes two or three days. Mr. Hesse is an intrepid moving picture man, having made the trip to Mount Katmai and taken pictures at the very mouth of the crater while it w...
Local land surveyor Rick Braun recently began using newer GPS technology and has interesting insights into its application and the land it measures. Braun used to use the Trimble system—a system that required the use of at least five U.S. satellites out of the 31 that are in space. “It works okay, but you need a really good look at the sky,” Braun said. “That system is only accurate to within 1 to 3 meters.” The new GPS system Braun is using, the Javad system, utilizes both U.S. and Russian satellites that send signals to a rover and a base st...
Uncertainty best sums up the mood as fishermen and processors await the world’s biggest sockeye salmon run at Bristol Bay. In fact, it’s being called the riskiest season in recent memory in the 2014 Sockeye Market Analysis, a biannual report done by the McDowell Group for the fishermen-run Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association. As presaged by buyer pushback at seafood trade shows earlier this year at Boston and Brussels, for the first time since 2010 the starting price for the first sockeyes from Copper River took a $0.50/lb dip...
June 20, 1914 – A glance over the harbor at Petersburg together with the activity at the cannery, remind the observer that the fishing season is opened. The harbor is clear of its numerous fishing boats and the cannery is running. Three traps have been completed and are fishing. The Colpoy trap was lifted Thursday and 1000 sockeye, 25 large king and a few humpback salmon were taken. This will start the cannery. June 7, 1974 Celebrating the Pilot's 40th Year – May Kuwata is queen of the Kings this year, with her 47.5-pound entry in the first ann...
June 11 A caller reported smoke blowing towards residence. Police issued a burn permit violation. June 12 A caller reported a theft from their vehicle on Towne Trailer Court. A caller requested a welfare check for an individual. An officer responded to report of an individual shooting at cats with a BB gun in Towne Trailer Court. The officer informed the individual that shooting projectiles within city limits is prohibited. An officer discouraged loitering in the ferry terminal parking lot. An officer spoke with people in Sandy Beach Park...
During the June 16 Petersburg Borough Assembly, meeting Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht gave the following report: Transient boaters are excited about the new harbor facility. About half are having issues with the electric meters and the boaters are requesting WiFi hookup. The recycling program is set up with individual vessels through the Harbor Office. Staff members hand out the blue bags and participants are required to return the filled bags back at the office for Wednesday pickup. Borough staff will monitor the program throughout the...
June 13, 1914 – Last Tuesday evening, immediately after the adjournment of the firemen's meeting, nearly every man in town who was not otherwise occupied assembled at the Fire Hall for the purpose of devising ways and means for the celebration of the coming fourth. Enthusiasm ran high and, if kept up, Petersburgers and visitors will witness the greatest fourth of July celebration in the history of the town. It was suggested that everybody be appointed a committee of one and invite out-of-town friends to join in the festivities of the day. J...
June 4 A caller reported a reckless driver. Officers patrolled an area where a caller had reported a car alarm going off. A caller reported loud music from a vehicle. The vehicle left the area during the call. An officer issued a driver a warning for no permit. A caller reported glass in the roadway. June 5 Police received a report of two large flags being stolen during the night. An officer gave a warning to a driver for no front plate, not carrying proof of insurance, not displaying current registration tags, and a broken taillight. A caller...
Look at the facts To the Editor: Papac Alaska Logging, Inc. (PAL) worked on Kupreanof Island, Lindenberg Peninsula, from April through November last year, on the U.S. Forest Service Tonka Timber Sale and is currently working this site. It has been brought to our attention that there is a misconception that we are not supporting local business or contributing positively to the Petersburg community. Our company, as well as the timber fallers of Timberwolf Cutting, is based out of Craig, on Prince of Wales Island, only a short distance south of...
The Petersburg Borough Assembly voted 6-1 to authorize Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht to issue a request for proposals (RFP) for the borough’s comprehensive plan. The comprehensive planning process is extensive and covers things such as updating zoning and land use, identification and selection of state land for economic and community development, evaluating housing availability and affordability, the impact of tourism and other quality of life issues. Developing a harbor master plan will also be included in the planning process. The a...
Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht reported the following during the last Borough Assembly meeting: New ordinances have been forwarded to the court for inclusion in the Courtview and TrACS systems. This will allow the court to recognize the revisions and ultimately allow for more efficient processing of citations. Preparation for the annual FERC inspection of Blind Slough has begun and includes installation of a flange and plat over the low-level outlet to facilitate the FERC mandated operation of the outlet valve. The valve hasn’t been o...
Gerald "Jerry" Patrick Wollen, 58, was born in Aberdeen, Washington on June 14th, 1957 to parents James and Ruth. He had wonderful memories of his early years growing up with older brother Jamey and younger brother Randy, his many cousins and friends in the little town of Oakville, Washington. He remembered fondly their paternal grandparents Oscar and Alice Wollen, often telling stories of those early years that remained a cornerstone of the childhood adventures of his youth. As the boys grew... Full story
Theodore ("Ted") Archibald Morrison passed away in Petersburg, Alaska on May 19, 2014, with his beloved wife and children at his bedside. Ted was born to Alex and Carrie Morrison in Bellingham, Wash. on January 7, 1929. He was raised with his brothers and sister on the family farm at Deer Harbor on Orcas Island, Wash. As soon as he was able, he began driving a truck to help with chores on the farm. He was so little that he had to have the pedals extended with blocks of wood secured by wire.... Full story
The 33rd Annual Petersburg Chamber of Commerce King Salmon Derby gets underway this Friday at 7 a.m. The derby continues through the Memorial Day Weekend and ends Monday at 5 p.m. Two tagged fish will hopefully be available for anglers this year. Derby Committee member Doug Welde and volunteers were still seeking two Kings to tag at press time Thursday morning. One tagged fish could bring a derby angler a chance at $5,000 from Hammer and Wikan and the other could garner a $10,000 prize sponsored by Alaska Marine Lines and the Petersburg... Full story
Petersburg Mayor Mark Jensen will revisit the offering of a request for proposals (RFP) for a borough comprehensive plan after the assembly voted down such a request at its last meeting. “Due to the great importance of a comprehensive plan to the community and the absence of several people from the May 5 meeting that could have provided more information I believe the topic deserves further discussion and debate,” Jensen said. Jensen and assembly member Kurt Wohlhueter did not attend the May 5 meeting where assembly members John Havrilek and...
This year's Little Norway Festival will commemorate the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Norwegian Constitution on May 17, 1814. Mayfest began in Petersburg more than 50 years ago and Janet Holten, Chair of the Little Norway Festival, said it has grown ever since. "In 1958 when Alma Wallen and Bernadine Trones founded the festival, I don't know if they would have ever dreamed that it is as big as it is now," Holten said. "It was to mark the coming of spring, the sending off of the fleet,... Full story
